Candidate for PA State Representative
Phil Rice’s family has lived and worked in Cambria County for more than a century. His maternal grandparents settled in Ebensburg in 1920 and opened Haden’s Store, while his paternal grandparents’ ties stretch even farther back—his grandfather worked in the mines by day and played piano in local gathering places by night.
Phil is the youngest of three children and was raised in a working-class family. His father, Charlie, was a World War II Navy veteran who worked as a mechanic, salesman, and later as a maintenance man at the Cresson Center. His mother, Mae, worked in the Department of Forest and Waters in Ebensburg and the Department of Public Welfare in Johnstown, and was always active in civic and social organizations that strengthened the community.
When Phil was seven, his father and grandfather passed away within three weeks of each other. The sudden loss reshaped his family’s life. To provide stability, his mother and grandmother bought a home together and created a structured, loving environment that left a lasting impression on him. Home became a place of deep meaning—so much so that after his mother’s passing, Phil purchased his boyhood home, where he now lives with his family.
Phil attended Central Cambria through middle school. As he grew older, he felt a calling to military service, which led to his acceptance at Valley Forge Military Academy on a music scholarship. Leaving home at 14 for a strict military school more than two hundred miles away was difficult, but this experience built resilience. It taught him that character and trust are proven through action, hard work, and dedication—not through color, culture, or creed. After graduating from Valley Forge, Phil attended Gettysburg College on an ROTC scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance.
After college, Phil was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in the United States Army and went on to serve more than twenty years on active duty, including over nine years deployed overseas. His assignments took him from guarding freedom’s frontier along the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, to peacekeeping in Bosnia, to serving as an operations officer in the brigade that seized Baghdad during the invasion of Iraq. He later fought insurgents in and around Fallujah and returned during the 2007–08 surge to help build a professional Iraqi military. During this final tour, his vehicle was struck by an Iranian-sourced improvised explosive device, severely wounding his driver and narrowly missing him.
Phil earned two Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, and Parachutist’s Wings, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
After leaving the military, Phil married his wife, Michele, and returned home to Ebensburg. He quickly became active in local veterans’ groups, fraternal organizations, and civic events. His commitment to service led him to become President of the county fair, Commander of Ebensburg’s American Legion Post, Master of the local Masonic Lodge, regular emcee of Ebensburg’s Memorial Day Ceremony, and a board member at Appalachian Youth Services. From 2021 to 2025, he also served as Cambria County’s Director of Veterans’ Services, helping veterans and their families secure the benefits they earned.
More than anything, Phil treasures his family. His wife, Michele, holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership, serves as Director of Prior Learning Assessment for Penn State University, and is a member of the Central Cambria School Board. Their daughter, Lauren, is a rising high-school sophomore, an honor-roll student, a karate black belt, and an accomplished pianist. Phil’s two corgis, Willow and Winston, are his loyal—and very furry—companions.
Throughout his life, Phil has dedicated himself to serving his country, his community, and his family. Now he wants to commit to serving you. Please use your vote to give Phil the opportunity to return safety, prosperity, and goodwill to our home in the PA’s 72nd District.